Service Announcements

Bishop Louis Hunter, Sr. of Suwanee, Ga. passed away November 4, 2020. Public visitation will be held Sunday, November 29, 2020 at Long & Son Mortuary Chapel from 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm. Military Rites and Interment will take place on Monday, November 30, 2020 at the Salisbury National Cemetery 501 Statesville Blvd. Salisbury, NC  28144 at 2:00pm.

Bishop Louis Hunter Sr. was born on February 21, 1945, in Landis, North Carolina, the son of Voyda Lee and Willie Mae Brawley Hunter.  He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Robert Lee Hunter, his sister Roxie Mae Hunter and his first wife, of l7 years, Delorice Ann Black Hunter. Bishop Hunter served in the Vietnam War with the 101st Airborne.  He was decorated and honorably discharged in 1967.

Bishop Hunter received his early spiritual foundation at Bethpage Presbyterian Church in Kannapolis, North Carolina. Bishop Hunter was ordained as an Elder of the AME Zion Church in 1976, received a Bachelor of Theology degree from Hood Theological Seminary, a Master’s of Arts degree from Howard University-School of Communications in Theory and Rhetoric, and a Master’s of Divinity degree from Hood Theological Seminary. Bishop Hunter was honored with a Doctor of Divinity degree from Clinton Junior College in 1995 and awarded an honorary doctorate from his Alma Mater, Hood Theological Seminary for Meritorious Services in 2005.

Bishop Hunter served as a Pastor in the AME Zion Church for 28 years. He was truly a gifted, anointed, and dedicated Pastor.  His faith and worship inspired others for a deeper relationship with God. His witness for Jesus Christ was impactful and his ability to be empathetic brought thousands of souls to Jesus Christ.  He was truly a prayer warrior and known as a “Preacher’s Preacher.”  Bishop Hunter truly enjoyed preaching and teaching the word of God.  He would always share his insights and would witness the awesomeness of God.   The hallmark of his pastoral ministry   was “productivity and growth in the spirit of excellence.”

Bishop Hunter served as the Pastor of Shaw Temple AME Zion Church from 1992-2004, where he was the prime mover in engineering the congregation’s procession from south-west Atlanta, to the massive structure in Smyrna, GA. The Bishop’s innovative, creative, and thoughtful leadership of the church resulted in an increase of more than 1,400 new members. Over 20 new ministries and a Children’s Learning Center were created under his dynamic leadership. He was known as a skilled “turnaround specialist,” through his vision and dedication to the ministry and serving people, he created a holistic ministry that served the needs of all people, young and old.  His success served as a blueprint of evangelism and innovative ministry to other ministries.  Bishop Hunter was elevated to the episcopacy by the 47th Quadrennial Session of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church General Conference in Greensboro, North Carolina, and was consecrated on August 3, 2004, as the 93rd prelate in the line of succession, after serving in the traveling ministry since 1975.

Bishop Hunter peacefully entered his eternal rest on early Wednesday morning, November 4, 2020. Those left to celebrate his life and cherish his memory are his beloved wife of 35 years, Ingrid Flack Hunter, his three sons, Louis Hunter, Jr., of North Carolina, Rodney Hunter, (Linda) of Washington, DC, Kenya Hunter, (Johncie) of Indiana;  his grandchildren: Tamieka, Jasmine, Janae, Jaylin, Jordan, Kendall, and Tyler; his great-grandchildren, Malik, Madson, and Marlee Zoe, his siblings:  Lovell Hunter Gibson of Kannapolis, NC Vernice Hunter of Kannapolis, NC and Gaynelle Hunter Propst (Bobby) of Salisbury, NC;  a beloved sister-in-law Roberta Flack of New York;  and a host of nieces, nephews, godchildren,  26 sons and daughters in the ministry, and many beloved relatives and friends.